Chemiluminescent treatment of acne

Abstract

The present invention provides the ability to treat acne with a device that can be worn by a patient for extended time periods. The device can, for example, enable the delivery of light for time periods that are longer than one might want to sit still in front of a stationary light source. The device is a flexible container that may be fitted to parts of the body to be treated. An example of such a flexible container is a mask for the face. The mask covers the face and has a strap to hold it to the face. The mask is located relative to a light source generating light by chemiluminescence. The mask is worn for a period of time needed to provide the desired amount of light energy to the tissue.

1. A method of treating a skin condition of a patient comprising:
 (a) generating, by chemiluminescence, light having a wavelength between about 400 nm and about 450 nm;  
 (b) using an illuminating mask, located relative to the light source, to expose at least a portion of skin of a patient to the light to treat the skin condition of the patient; and  
 (c) exposing the skin of the patient to at least one of a skin softener and a cleanser.  
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1  wherein step (a) further comprises
 (a-a) generating additional light having a wavelength between about 630 nm and about 690 nm.  
 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1  comprising mixing a first chemical and a second chemical to generate the light. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 3  wherein the first chemical is stored in a first portion of the mask and the second chemical is stored in a second portion of the mask. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 3  wherein the mixing of the chemicals to generate light further comprises injecting at least one of the first chemical and the second chemical into the mask through a port located thereon. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 4  further comprising breaking a separating mechanism which separates the first portion and the second portion to generate the light. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 1  wherein step (a) further comprises
 (a-a) generating additional light having a wavelength between about 525 nm and about 575 nm.  
 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mask is used to treat acne. 
   
   
     9. An apparatus for treating a skin condition of a patient comprising:
 (a) a chemiluminescent light source generating light having a wavelength between about 400 nm and about 450 nm;  
 (b) a mask, located relative to the light source, the mask capable of exposing the light to a portion of skin of a patient, the mask having a front side and a back side; and  
 (c) a source of at least one of a skin softener and a cleanser connected to the back side, whereby the at least one of a skin softener and a cleanser can transfer to the skin of the patient.  
 
   
   
     10. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the light source is located within the mask. 
   
   
     11. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the mask comprises:
 (b-a) a first portion containing a first chemical;  
 (b-b) a second portion containing a second chemical, the second chemical separated from the first chemical by a separating mechanism.  
 
   
   
     12. The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the light is generated upon the breaking of the separating mechanism. 
   
   
     13. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the mask comprises a transparent section that exposes the light to the portion of the skin. 
   
   
     14. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the mask comprises an opaque section. 
   
   
     15. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the mask is made from a flexible material. 
   
   
     16. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the mask is at least one of a face mask and a body mask. 
   
   
     17. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the light source further comprises an additional light source generating additional light having a wavelength between about 525 nm and about 575 nm. 
   
   
     18. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the light source further comprises an additional light source generating additional light having a wavelength approximately between 630 nm and 690 nm. 
   
   
     19. The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a plurality of light sources to generate the light by chemiluminescence at a plurality of times. 
   
   
     20. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the mask further comprises at least one port through which at least one of a first chemical and a second chemical are delivered to the mask for generation of the light. 
   
   
     21. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the source of at least one of a skin softener and a cleanser is at least one of a skin softener and a skin cleanser impregnated into at least a portion of a surface of the back side. 
   
   
     22. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the light source is capable of generating light having a wavelength between about 525 nm and about 575 nm and a wavelength between about 630 nm and about 690 nm.